7 Hobbies That Make Money

Do you have a hobby? Many people love to get out on the golf course, train for marathons, or knit. But what if we told you that you could combine your hobby with the ability to earn cash? It’s true. By picking up one of these fun and affordable hobbies, you could actually put some money in your pocket. Here are seven ideas you can pursue to pad your wallet in your free time.

1. Blogging

Blogging has become a full-time occupation for many industrious people who are experts in their field. They write about the topics they love, such as developing recipes or parenting, and they get money from a variety of sources, such as:

• Affiliate commission
• Advertising sold on their sites
• Sponsored posts

The key to being an effective blogger is finding your passion. Write about something you care deeply about. You can enlist family members or friends to assist you with other aspects of your new hobby, such as building your website or publishing your posts on social media.

2. Selling Homemade Crafts

Crafting offers a fantastic way to unwind after a long week. When you sit down with your needlepoint or crafting supplies, you have a chance to quiet your brain and do something creative. You can also sell the things you make through social media or other online marketplaces. Setting up your shop requires just a few things:

• A name for your store
• Adding items to your store
• Setting up your payment method
• Creating a bio
• Setting your sales policies

With a bit of experimenting, you can determine what items sell the best and focus your efforts on those. Or, if you’re more concerned with creativity than cash, you can simply make what speaks to you in the moment and share your crafts with the world.

3. Photography

Photography can be a lucrative side job, and it’s a fantastic hobby to monetize because so many people love to look at pictures. This hobby requires upfront costs, so you’ll need to plan ahead.

You’ll need to invest in a decent camera to ensure you get the best pictures. Once you’ve familiarized yourself with the camera, you may decide you want different lenses as well, depending on what type of shoots you’ll do. Nature photographs, for instance, require a different lens than action-packed sports photography.

Where should you sell your photos? You can try a number of different ways to make money, including:

• Selling photographs to magazines
• Marketing to businesses
• Setting up an online shop to sell prints
• Contracting with your local paper to take photos at events and festivals

4. Freelance Writing and Editing

Do you have a knack for grammar? Have you always wanted to tell stories? Freelance writing and editing may be right up your alley ­— and there are many opportunities. So many places need content for their websites that sales writing alone could keep you busy for months. You may also consider starting a website where you can post on a personal blog. That way you’ll have a portfolio of your writing if you’ve never published before. A few places to look for paid work include:

• Job boards geared toward freelance writers and editors
• Online classified sites where you should look under full-time and part-time gigs
• General job boards where you can do searches for “freelance writer” and “freelance editor”

5. Getting Involved With Youth Sports

Across Pennsylvania, children of all ages play a range of different sports. Between baseball, lacrosse, soccer, swim teams, and more, you can find opportunities to watch your favorite pastimes and make money. Here are a few ways you can do it:

• Apply for a job coaching a travel team — these are often paid positions
• Join a local middle school or high school coaching staff
• Become an official, such as an umpire or referee

Some of these positions, such as umpires and referees, generally require training to become certified, which means a small initial investment. But you’ll soon make that up through the income you earn working at games.

6. Woodworking

Woodworking provides a chance to work with your hands and create a range of practical and often impressive pieces. For example, you can make a cutting board for your kitchen or redo your cabinets. Once you’ve perfected these skills, you can sell outside the home. You can try selling by:

• Posting photos of your pieces on your social media sites
• Joining an established group of woodworkers who can advise you on the best places to sell your work
• Getting a booth at a local craft fair

7. Coaching Chess Players

Even if you aren’t quite a grandmaster, you can help guide new chess players. If there’s a local chess association in your area, be sure to join so you can meet others who may need your services. Other ways to advertise include:

• Putting an ad in the local paper or on a local website
• Posting on social media
• Handing out flyers at a chess tournament

Having a hobby you love provides many rewards. Having a hobby that actually pays you is even more exciting. Be sure to keep track of all that extra money carefully. You can open a checking account and savings share for the money you earn through your hobby. Contact us to get started. Looking for more tips on personal finance? Check out our blog.